Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-06-19
A NOVEL
CONTINUED.
P XIII.
N THE DRIFT OF THE vAAL.

The day had been intensely and over
Doweriugly hot and our travellers sat in
the shade of the cart positively gasping.
During the afternoon there had been q lit
lie breeze, but this had now died away,
and the sitting air felt as thick as though
they were breathing cream.
Even the two Beers seemed to feel the heat,
for they were both outstretched on the
grass a few PAGES TO the left, to all APP
pearanees fast asleep. As for the horses,
they were thoroughly done up.-toO much
50 TO eat-and hObbled along rs well as
their knee-halters would allow, daintily
picking = mouthful here and y mouthful
there. The only person who did not seem
to mind was the Zulu MOuti, who sat on
an antheap near the horses, inthe full glare
of the setting sun, and comfortably drOned
out q little song Of his own invention, for
Zulus are as great for ~improvising as the
Italians.
Have another egg, JESSE" said John.
at will do you good"
mo, thank you; the last n stuck IN
my throat. 1t is impossible to eat IN TINS
heat
''YOu had better. Goodness knows when
and where we shall stop again. / can get
nothing out of our delightful escort; either
the don't know or they won't say"
81 can't, John. There is a thunder
storm coming up, l can feel it in my head,
and | can never eat before q thunderstorm
and when / am tired, y she added, by an
afterthOught.
After that the conversation tagged for a
while.
"John," said Jess, at last, where dc
YOU suppose we are going to camp to-
night? Ii we follow the main road We
shall reach StandertOn in an hour"
II don't suppose hat they will 60 near
StandertOu, " he said. II suppose that we
shall cross the Yaal by another drift and
have to 'yeldt' it,"
Just then the two Beers woke up and
began to talk earnestly together, asthough
they were debating something hOtly.
Slowly the huge red ball of the sun sank
towards the horizon, sleeping the earth
aud sky in blood. About q hundred yards
frsm where they sat the little bTidle-path
that branched from the main road crossed
the crest OF one Of one of the great land.
waves that rolled away in every direction
towards the far horizon. John watched
the sun sinking behind il till something
called away his attention for a minute,
When he looked up again there was a
figure on horseback, standing quiet still,
upon the crest of the ridge in the full glow
of the now disappearingsun. 1t was Frank
Muller. John recognized him in a mo-
ment. His horse was standing sideways,
so that even at that distance every line oil
his features, and even the trigger-guard Of
the rifle that rested on his knee, showed
distinctly against the background Ofsmoky
red. Nor was that all. Both he and his
horse had the appearance of being abSO,
lutely on fire. The effect produced was 81
weird and extraordinary that John called
his eOlnpaniOn's attention to it. She look
ed, and shuddered in]voluntarily.
He looks Ikea devil in hell, " she said.
''the fire seems to be running all up and
down him"
well" said John, The certainly is
devil, but am sorry to say that he has
not vet reached his destination. Here be
comes, like whirlwind."
In another twenty seconds Muller had
refined the great black horse on TO his
launches alongside Of them, and waS
smiling sweetly and taking of his hat.
You see / nave managed to keep my
word, " he said. II can tell you that
had great difficulty in doing so; indeed,
was nearly Obliged to give the thing up al
the last moment. However, here / am
'Where are we to outspan tonight
asked Jess. AT StandertOn?'
''No," he said; ~ am afraid that that Is
more than / can manage for you, unless
YOU can persuade the English officer there
10 surrender. What / have arranged IS
that we should cross the Eaal at q drift
know about two hours twelve miles, from
here, and Outspan at 3 farm on the otheI
side. Do not trouble, / assure You you
shall both sleep we'll tonight and M
smiled q somewhat terrifying smile, jess
thought.
But how about this drift, Mr.. Muller?'
said John. rs il safe? / should have
thought that the Yaal would have been IL
food after all the rain that we have had. u
The drift is perfectly safe, Captain
Mel / crossed il myself about " hours
400. | know you nave a bad opinion o.
me. but I suppose you do not think that
should guide you to an unsafe drift?" q q
with another bow he rode on to speak tC
the two Beers, saying as he went, vii
YOU tell the Raffir to put the horses in2'
With a shrug of the shoulders John ross
and went of towards MOUti, to help hin
10 drive up the four grays, who were nov
standing Imply together, biting ut thu
dies. that, before a storm, sting mort
sharply than ut any other time. The TIVE
horses belonging to the escort were some
fifty PAGES 4 the left. 1t was as though
sbey appreciated the position OF affairs, anC
declined to mix with the animals Of th'
discreditsd Englishman.
The two B0ers rose aS Muller came anC
walked OF towards their horses, MULES
slowly following them As they came tn
horses hObbled away another thirty yard
or 50. and then lifted up their heads, and
as a consequence, their fore leg, to which
the heads were tied, and stood looking de
family at their capJOrs, for all the world a
though they we're trying To make up thel
minds whether or not to shake hands Wit
them.
Frank Muller was alongside the TIVE
men now, and they were alongside tn
horses.
Listen he said, sternly.
The men looked up.
Go on lOOseuing the renis, and listen.
They obeyed, and began to slowly
tumble at the knee-halters.
lyon understand what our orders are
Repeat them-yOuH'
The man with the tooth, who was ad
dressed, still handling the rein, began a
follows: ITO take the two prisoners to tn
Wal. to force them into the water wher,
there is no drift, ut night, so that the,
drown; if they do not drown, to shoe
them"
Those are the orders" said the Wilder
beeste, grinning.
''You understand them?''
I'VE understand, member; but, forgiyI
rs. the matter is a big One You gave TIT
OrderS-we wish to see the authority"
''Yah, yah" said the other, show u
the authority. These are two harmless
people enough. Show Us the authority FOL
killing them. People must not be klleC
so, even if they are English folk, witho1,
proper authority, especially when one Is I
pretty girl who would do for a mans wife.
Frank Muller set his teeth. Nice tel